The version of the film shown to the press for this review was 16 minutes longer than the one being released to the public now, so some of the following may be altered or not present (the releasing studio did not disclose what was cut from the film).

QUICK TAKE:

Drama: In this lyrical retelling of the Pocahontas legend, a young Native American must choose between two English settlers after they arrive on her father's land in the early 1600s.

PLOT:

It's 1607 and King Powatan (AUGUST SCHELLENBERG) rules the lands of middle North America that will one day become the state of Virginia. Little does he or his teenage daughter Pocahontas (Q'ORIANKA KILCHER) realize how soon things will change. For an English expedition led by Captain Christopher Newport (CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER) has arrived on their shores. Although most of the white men look down on the Native Americans as savages, an uneasy peace initially exists between the two parties.

And that includes Captain John Smith (COLIN FARRELL) who was about to be executed for mutiny before Newport intervenes. While on an exploratory excursion, Smith ends up separated from the rest of his party and falls into the hands of Powatan's warriors. Brought back to their village, he's about to be executed again when Pocahontas intervenes, saving his life.

The two soon begin teaching each other their disparate ways and language, and soon become romantically involved. But with the English settlers having a hard time making a go of it in this foreign land, tempers and resentment begin to flare. When Smith is assigned to find a passage to the Indies, his quick departure eventually leads to more hostile relations with the Indians as well as heartbreak for Pocahontas who's since been cast out by her father.

With time passing and another English settler, John Rolfe (CHRISTIAN BALE), eventually winning over her love, Pocahontas tries to become acclimated to the English way of life, all while eventually having to choose between the two English men who've changed her life forever.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?

If they're interested in the history behind the movie or are fans of someone in the cast, they might.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13

For some intense battle sequences.

CAST AS ROLE MODELS:

COLIN FARRELL plays the English soldier and colonizer who befriends and then becomes romantically involved with Pocahontas, all while leading the English settlement and having to deal with its various problems. When reassigned, he tells others to inform Pocahontas that he has drowned.

Q'ORIANKA KILCHER plays the teenage daughter of the Indian chief who saves Smith's life, eventually leading to her becoming romantically involved with him. After he leaves and she believes he's dead, she becomes assimilated into the English colony, eventually marrying Rolfe.

CHRISTIAN BALE plays the colonist and tobacco farmer who eventually becomes her husband.

CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER plays the head of the English expedition who initially spares Smith's life.

AUGUST SCHELLENBERG plays Powatan's father, the Indian chief who must deal with the unexpected arrival of the English colonists and the eventual realization that they won't be leaving.

Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit?
Then read OUR TAKE of this film.

(Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below).

OUR WORD TO PARENTS:

Please note that the version of the film shown to the press for this review was 16 minutes longer than the one being released to the public now, so some of the following may be altered or not present (the releasing studio did not disclose what was cut from the film).

The following is a brief summary of the content found in this drama that's been rated PG-13. Violence consists of the English and Native Americans battling each other with various resultant deaths, some of which are bloody, along with some mutinous behavior and several other fatal shootings. That and other moments of potential peril might be unsettling or suspenseful to viewers, while various characters have varying degrees of bad attitudes.

A few colorful phrases are present, while an English colonist and a teenage American Indian have some sensual moments together. Male and female Indians are seen in traditional garb that shows a lot of skin, while some cleavage is seen from time to time. Some smoking occurs, there's brief talk of family deaths and other thematic material is present. If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content.

For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, handheld camerawork (sometimes with a fair amount of movement) is present from time to time.

As the English explorers make their way upstream, they see a severed head hanging from a tree.

We briefly see one Native American handing a severed hand to another Native American.

We see Smith shirtless as Pocahontas puts bloody, muddy or painted handprints on his torso.

There's talk of someone being dead and something that sounded like they ate his hands (as we briefly see a dead body that's somewhat bloody, but we didn't/couldn't see if the hands are missing or not).

We see some bloody results of violence between the English and Native Americans.

The English and Native Americans develop bad attitudes toward each other, resulting in both trying to kill the other.

An English man refers to the Native Americans as "savages," while other similar terms are later used.

An English man refers to a woman as a "wench."

Other English settlers rebel against Smith. After he pushes and hits some of them, they gain control of him and we hear the sound of him being whipped (we see a partial view of him strapped upside down).

Smith tells the others to inform Pocahontas that he drowned (rather than making her wait for him as he explores the new world for a passage to India).

Scenes listed under "Violence" and/or "Blood/Gore" may be unsettling or suspenseful to younger viewers and/or those with low tolerance levels for such material.

Smith is about to be hanged for some sort of mutinous behavior (the noose never goes around his neck), but Newport pardons him.

As the English explorers make their way upstream, they see a severed head hanging from a tree.

Smith gets lost by himself in the tall river grass as their expedition heads upstream. We then see a Native American sneaking up on Smith in the water, followed by an arrow suddenly hitting Smith's body armor. Other Native Americans then attack him, with him shooting one but the rest capturing and hitting him (mostly in passing as they take turns doing so). We then see others pushing Smith back to the Indian village. One warrior then rushes in to kill Smith, but Pocahontas intervenes and saves him.

The English leader of the outpost wants to quell problems within their group and pulls his pistol, but after hearing a shot, we then see that it was him who was shot and mortally wounded.

We see various Native Americans sneaking up on the English compound, with the English firing canons and rifles at them, with some hit and others firing arrows back at them. The English then march outside of their fort where they encounter the Native Americans, resulting in hand to hand combat where various combatants on both sides are struck or sliced, with the English also shooting various Native Americans. During this, Smith kills many with his sword, while one Native American is shot (we briefly see his bloody chest), while an Englishman is hit in the neck. Some of the hitting and killing is brutal in nature (such as a tomahawk to one man) and many people are killed, but there isn't much blood.

We see Native Americans swimming (from below and in silhouette) so it's hard to tell if they're nude or just scantly dressed as usual. During this, we may also partially see a bare breast from the side, but the silhouette aspect means no details are apparent.

Many male Native Americans are seen shirtless and wearing standard attire down below (that shows parts of their bare butts) throughout the film.

We see Pocahontas' completely bare hip and part of her bare butt as she wears traditional garb.

We see Smith shirtless as Pocahontas puts bloody, muddy or painted handprints on his torso.

There are various sensual moments between Smith and Pocahontas as they become closer, such as him caressing her bare shoulder, etc. We also see him on top of her in a playful rather than purely sexual manner.

We see some caressing, hugging and brief kissing between Pocahontas and Smith.

We see some of Pocahontas' cleavage as she's bent over.

Pocahontas shows some cleavage in a period, low-cut dress.

We see an over the shoulder shot of the top of Pocahontas' breasts in her low-cut, period dress (while combing her hair).

We see a period drawing that shows a violent scene (spears and knives, etc. are raised).

An English explorer shoots a Native American who took a hatchet from their camp.

In response to the accusation of an English explorer stealing something, the order is given to cut off his ears, but we never see that occur if it even happens.

Smith dunks a man's head in some water as punishment.

Smith gets lost by himself in the tall river grass as their expedition heads upstream. We then see a Native American sneaking up on Smith in the water, followed by an arrow suddenly hitting Smith's body armor. Other Native Americans then attack him, with him shooting one but the rest capturing and hitting him (mostly in passing as they take turns doing so). We then see others pushing Smith back to the Indian village. One warrior then rushes in to kill Smith, but Pocahontas intervenes and saves him.

We briefly see one Native American handing a severed hand to another Native American and there's later talk of someone being dead and something that sounded like they ate his hands (as we briefly see a dead body that's somewhat bloody, but we didn't/couldn't see if the hands are missing or not).

The English leader of the outpost wants to quell problems within their group and pulls his pistol, but after hearing a shot, we then see that it was him who was shot and mortally wounded.

We see various Native Americans sneaking up on the English compound, with the English firing canons and rifles at them, with some hit and others firing arrows back at them. The English then march outside of their fort where they encounter the Native Americans, resulting in hand to hand combat where various combatants on both sides are struck or sliced, with the English also shooting various Native Americans. During this, Smith kills many with his sword, while one Native American is shot (we briefly see his bloody chest), while an Englishman is hit in the neck. Some of the hitting and killing is brutal in nature (such as a tomahawk to one man) and many people are killed, but there isn't much blood.

Other English settlers rebel against Smith. After he pushes and hits some of them, they gain control of him and we hear the sound of him being whipped (we see a partial view of him strapped upside down).

There's some shooting and canon fire off an English boat, while burning arrows are fired into the English village, leaving various structures on fire.

We see the Native Americans on the run as the English burn everything.